Opinion 60+ plant-based lunch box recipes and ideas

Say goodbye to the ‘same-old sandwich’ method: Lunchtime just got a whole lot more exciting! These easy, nourishing recipes are all 100% plant-based and pack a seriously delicious punch.

Whether you’re making lunch for little ones or putting a bit of extra love into your own, we’ve got you covered. 

There are plenty of vegan products at the supermarket that are great for effortlessly bulking out a midday meal, but doing some light meal prep at home can be fun sometimes too.

And with a few easy tips and some mixing and matching, packing a wholesome, homemade plant-based lunch box can be a breeze. A good rule of thumb is to go for: 

• 1 main

• 2 fruit, veggie, or salad-based sides

• 1-2 snacks

Think of this as your ‘recipe’ as you scroll through the following ideas, and be sure to bookmark your favourites from each section for later! 

Note: Most of these recipes are nut-free – check with your school or workplace for any other dietary requirements.

Mains (pick 1)

🥪 Sandwiches / Wraps / Rolls

 

There are countless plant-based filling options for these versatile lunchtime classics. 

Plus, anything you can put in a sandwich, you could also swap into a wrap, bagel or pita pocket for variety – and vice versa. Choose whole-grain breads for extra protein and fibre.

• Vegan ham, cheese, and tomato sandwich
• Tangy Chickpea Tuna-less Sandwich 
• Egg-less Salad Sandwich
• BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich
• Caesar Salad & Tofu ‘Bacon’ Wrap 
• Falafel and Hummus Wrap
• Fried Eggplant Pita Pockets
• Spinach & Mushroom Gözleme 

🌯 Mexican-Inspired

Low-key Mexican cuisine is quick to whip up and can turn any lunch box into a fiesta of flavour.

Pop any pre-cooked fillings and garnishes for tacos and fajitas into separate containers – they’re best (and easily) assembled fresh at lunchtime. 

• BBQ Butter Bean Tacos 
• Chipotle Breakfast Burrito 
• Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burritos
• Vegan Chicken Fajitas
• Portobello Mushroom Fajitas
• Vegan Cheesy Quesadillas 

🍝 Pasta

If there’s any meal base that’s sure to be consistently kid-approved, it’s pasta! There are plenty of satisfying, energy-sustaining options that are just as good chilled as they are served hot. 

We’d recommend sticking to shorter pasta shapes like penne, bow-ties or spirals – they’re oodles less messy than noodles 😉

• Mac & Cheese *or pre-make this mac & cheese powder
• Nut-Free Pesto Pasta
• TVP Bolognese
• Farfalle with Fried Kale & Peas
• Creamy Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo
• Hummus Pasta
• Tomato Cream Sauce Gnocchi 
• Tuscan Gnocchi
• Spaghetti Frittata 

🍲 Dinner Leftovers

Zero-waste and the easiest ever last-minute lunch option? We call that a win-win.

Hearty, comforting leftovers are great for keeping kids fuelled throughout the day, especially if you’re catering to picky eaters who prefer foods they’re already familiar with.

• Easy Weeknight Pumpkin Curry
• Zesty Lemongrass Tofu Stir-fry
• Hearty Vegetable Tagine *leave out the almonds for a nut-free option
• Sticky Pineapple Tofu
• Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

Sides (pick 2)

🍉 Fruit

 

Sweet, refreshing, and packed with vitamins, fresh fruit is a must-have sidekick for every packed lunch. Not only will it give your kids an energy boost, it’ll also brighten up their day!

• • Whole fresh fruit – e.g. apples, apricots, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, mandarin, cherries, grapes, plums, bananas
  • Cut fresh fruit – e.g. oranges, kiwifruit, peaches, mango, pineapple, watermelon, rockmelon

• Fruit salad
• Rainbow fruit skewers
• Chopped fruit with coconut or soy yoghurt

🥦 Veggies

Make your lunch box even more colourful by incorporating one or more veggie sides – these ideas are super easy to prepare but have a huge nutritional payoff.

• Fresh, chopped veggies
  • e.g. capsicum, carrot, cucumber, purple cabbage, cherry tomatoes, green beans, snow peas
• Oven roasted veggies
  • e.g. onion, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, green beans, eggplant
• Grilled Corn
• Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
• ‘Cheesy’ Kale Chips
• Baked Beans
• Fried Edamame Beans
• Teriyaki Tofu & Black Rice Sushi Rolls 
• Rainbow Rice Paper Rolls *swap to soy or teriyaki sauce for a nut-free dipping option

🥗 Salads

Salads can be lunchbox-friendly too! We’ve shortlisted some of our most flavourful favourites that have all been tried, tested, and thoroughly kid-approved.

• Potato Salad
• Macaroni Salad
• Black Bean Salad & Tortilla Chips
• Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad
• Moroccan Sweet Potato Salad
• Roast Cauliflower & Chickpea Salad
• Pasta Salad *leave out the pine nuts for a nut-free option

Snacks (pick 1-2)

🌿 Dips

A dip can be delightfully dual-purpose: It can either be paired with a savoury snack (like veggie sticks, crackers, or bread) or dolloped on top of the main meal element or veggie side for extra flavour.

• Hummus
• Asian-Style Guacamole
• Vegan Cream Cheese
• Vegan Nacho Cheese Dip

🍿 Savoury Snacks

Savoury snacks more than earn their place in the everyday lunch box. Here are some tasty examples that can be made in batches ahead of time and hold up well in containers. 

• Crackers
• Vegan Cheese & Onion Jam Bread Stacks
• Vegan Cheese & Vegemite Scrolls
• Upside Down Ratatouille Tart
• Baked Zucchini & Carrot Fritters
• Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach & Olive Muffins
• Crispy Cheesy Tofu Bites
• Vegan Pizza Pockets
• Tofu Ricotta Pastries
• Vegan Cheesy Popcorn

🍓 Sweet Treats

End lunch on a sweet note with one of these indulgent vegan treats – the perfect pick-me-up for a long afternoon of work and play.

• No-Bake Granola Bars
• Maple Glazed Nut-Free Trail Mix
• Double Choc Chunk Brownies
• Raspberry / Apricot Bliss Balls
• Cranberry, Apricot & Rolled Oat Cookies
• Chai Raspberry Cupcakes
• Lamington Loaf
• Banana Bread
• Blueberry Muffins
• Mixed Berry Pull-Apart
• Lemon & Coconut Chia Muffins

The possibilities are endless…

When you have the time and energy, sticking with mostly home-prepped options is ideal, but store-bought vegan products can be lifesavers on busy weeks or sleepy mornings, and there’s an incredible variety on the shelves these days. Check out our favourite store-bought lunch box additions here. 

And if you need some extra inspiration for how to bring all these ideas together, don’t miss our easy lunch box guide – or our school-week meal plan, which features 5 fully-packed lunch box ‘recipes’ that are all quick to prepare and bursting with plant-based goodness.

We can’t wait to hear what lunch box combinations you come up with!

Thank you to all the vegan parents who shared their tips, tricks, and wisdom with us for this article!